10/01/2016 BBC Weekend News

Hopes of relief for a besieged town in Syria, as the UN prepares to send

food to thousands of starving people.

A convoy is being readied to head for Madiya tomorrow.

We hear new testimony on conditions there,

where people are said to be living on rats and boiled leaves.

I haven't seen my mother in a year and a half. Every time we talk, she

breaks down in tears. I'm only asking for somebody to intervene and

help the people there because what is happening is a crime.

The partner of the murdered EastEnders actress Sian Blake,

arrested in Ghana, is to be questioned by British detectives.

David Cameron gives his strongest signal yet, of a summer referendum

on Britain's membership of the European Union.

The Hollywood actor and the drugs baron.

Sean Penn's interview with Mexico's most wanted,

And Oxford United cause the first big shock of the FA Cup,

knocking out Premier League Swansea.

For months the town of Madiya in Syria has been under siege

by government forces, and with little access to food,

terrible reports have been emerging of how thousands of people there,

Children are feared to have died of starvation, while people have

been forced to eat weeds and vermin.

Well tomorrow, the United Nations and the Red Cross hope a convoy

of aid will be allowed to travel from the capital Damascus to Madiya,

and two villages besieged by rebel forces.

Lyse Doucet, who's on Syria's border with Lebanon,

has heard new testimony on the desperate situation in

On Lebanon's border it looms with majestic beauty. Behind the

snowcapped peaks unfolds the dark tale. This lady left Madaya with her

young family two years ago. Her mother, nieces and nephews are still

there. She asked us to blow their faces.

-- blur their faces. I haven't seen my mother feel year and a half,

every time I speak to she breaks down in tears. I'm asking for some

and intervene and help because what is happening is a crime. They remain

in text communication but today they couldn't get through. Fox just two

more days of starvation became a reply, thanks be to God. These are

the image is said to be from inside Madaya. A child whose mother says is

surviving on salted water. It's what many seem to be living on. If you

can call this a life. Packets of salt handed out, leaves pulled from

trees. We can't verify these images ourselves. Today, on the border,

Syrians and Lebanese raise their voices for Madaya. A rebel held town

besieged. Madaya is now in the eyes of the world. Protests like this are

moving. Madaya is just one, one of many. There are 400,000 people in

all said the United Nations, not getting enough attention, not

getting any at all. This is the place that used to symbolise

suffering in Syria. We returned to its starkers corridor last month.

The UN hasn't been able to enter here since June, and some places

have never been reached. Today aid agencies prepare to feed Madaya, and

two Northern villagers seated by opposition. That is the deal. In

Syria, food is a weapon of war. A British man arrested in Ghana

in connection with the killing of his partner, the former

Eastenders actress Sian Blake, and their two sons, will appear

in court in the morning. Arthur Simpson-Kent was detained

yesterday at a beach resort. British detectives have

begun legal proceedings, to bring him back to

the UK for questioning. From Ghana, Alistair

Leithead reports. Paraded in front of the media,

the Ghanaian authorities were keen to show off Arthur Simpson-Kent,

the murder suspect in their custody, just three days after being told

he was in Ghana and the British The fugitive is in our custody,

waiting an official request from the British government

via the diplomatic channel He was arrested yesterday,

at a remote tourist spot hours Locals who recognised him said it

took police a long time to act on tips, but British

officers disagreed. I'm satisfied it was done

as quickly as we could, There is nothing we or the Ghanaians

could have done any quicker, The bodies of Sian Blake

and their two children were found last week in the back garden, weeks

after first being reported missing. Their father travelled

to Ghana before Christmas. This beautiful stretch of coast

is where Arthur Simpson-Kent came, after apparently visiting his

grandmother in Cape Coast Many people in town have met him,

and when his photograph circulated on social media, they realised

he was a wanted man. He met Mr Simpson-Kent at a cafe

owned by a British woman. We sat and had a coffee,

and he said he was Even though I had seen his

photograph. It was three weeks that

Arthur Simpson-Kent was here in Ghana before the authorities

were made aware that the police in the UK were looking for him,

but such is the power of social media that just a few days

after his photograph was circulated, the community here, in this remote

part of coastal Ghana, realised it was him,

mobilised the police The search ended here,

but the process to extradite him Although in custody,

Arthur Simpson-Kent can't be questioned by police in connection

with the murder investigation, until he's back in Britain and that

could take some time. The first step will be

when he appears in court tomorrow. Alistair Leithead, BBC News,

on the Ghanaian coast. David Cameron has told the BBC he's

"hopeful" a deal can be reached with European leaders next month,

which would pave the way for a referendum on Britain's

membership of the EU. The Prime Minister indicated

the 'in/out' vote, could follow as early as June, if agreement

is reached at a summit in February. Here's our Political

Correspondent Ross Hawkins. In or out of the European Union? A

decision that could define Britain's future, a decision he made clear

today could be just months away. My aim is clear, best of both worlds

for Britain, the massive prize of sorting out what frustrates us about

Europe but staying in a reformed Europe. I'm going to work around the

clock to get that done. He is hopeful he will secure that prize in

Brussels next month, which could mean referendum in June. If he fails

here, the vote might not come till next year. So after tortuous

negotiations in Europe, was the British government prepared for the

possibility of actually leaving the EU? I don't think that is the right

answer, for the answers I've given, but were that to be the answer, we

would have to do everything necessary to make that work. We put

it in our manifesto, it is a public that will decide this, not the

politicians. Something they call a Brexit. He said this morning there

are no plans for Brexit, this is disgraceful, it is really serious

because it is a very complicated operation to carry out if it

happens. I'm told there is growing disquiet among Eurosceptic cabinet

ministers, that was pro-European ministers are encouraged to speak,

they keep quiet. David Cameron says he will stay in his job whatever

happens in the referendum, but some of his MPs think if Britain votes to

leave the EU he will be. Downing Street. Ross Hawkins, BBC News.

The authorities in Mexico say they want to question the American

actor Sean Penn, about an interview he conducted with the drug baron

It took place in the Mexican jungle while Guzman was a fugitive

on the run, having escaped from a maximum security prison.He

From Mexico City here's Katie Watson.

A handshake that took everyone by surprise.

One Hollywood star and one of the world's most wanted men,

that is, until he was caught on Friday

It turns out that vanity played a part

According to the Mexican authorities, he wanted

The security services worked out he had

been in contact with actors and producers.

After a brief meeting in a hideout, El Chapo later recorded

an interview, answering questions provided by Penn.

In it he blamed his rise to become a violent and feared criminal

And the man said to be responsible for tens of thousands

of deaths through his drug trafficking activities,

There is talk in Mexico that contact between the two

men may have facilitated El Chapo's capture.

No doubt the authorities both here in Mexico and the US

would like to speak to Sean Penn, but the

big prize for the Americans is El Chapo.

They are seeking to extradite him as soon as possible.

Mexico's a country where reality is sometimes too unbelievable to be

El Chapo's escapades are material for a movie,

but one he will no longer be involved in.

The Government's Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies,

has urged junior doctors in England to call off a strike planned

She told the Sunday Times she could understand their anger

and frustration, but didn't want patients to suffer.

The doctors union, the British Medical Association,

says strike action demonstrates the strength of feeling

within the profession, against proposed new employment

The Prime Minister's announced a ?140 million programme to either

renovate, or tear down and replace England's worst housing estates.

David Cameron pledged to end what he called 'decades of neglect'

with the initiative, which he hopes will also help tackle

A panel of experts will choose the 100 sites to be looked at.

Here's our Political Correspondent Ross Hawkins.

Southampton's Thornhill estate, in parts dilapidated and deprived.

These are the type of tired tower blocks that should be revamped

or rebuilt to tackle the crime and poverty,

Phyllis, who has lived here for seven years,

says regeneration would help residents.

If they live in a rough area, they've no pride, and therefore

they don't bother with themselves, let alone their community around

The government is investing ?140 million to identify sites

The rest, and the bulk, will have to come from the private sector.

The plan is for old houses to be replaced with more affordable homes.

I think sink housing estate, many built after the war,

where people can feel trapped in poverty, unable to get

on and build a good life for themselves, I think it is time,

with government money, but with massive private sector

and perhaps pension sector help, to demolish the worst of these

and actually rebuild houses that people feel they can

In Southampton there has long been an aspiration to regenerate some

Some work has been done, but plans often hit obstacles,

not least finding adequate funding, and some argue the Government's

proposal doesn't mean much without more money to back it up.

Revamping just one estate can cost millions, says the local Labour

council, which fears new homes that are built could be sold off,

leaving a shortage of social housing for rent.

We have about 10,000 people on our social housing waiting list

in Southampton, and I don't really know how much money has been made

available for them by central government.

The government is offering money for people who can buy or nearly

buy, but where is the money for everybody else?

Tenants rights will be protected, says the Government,

and estates rebuilt with homes to buy and rent, but this ambition

is not yet reality, and for some, social turnaround will take more

It is nice, you have nice neighbours, you have neighbourhood

wardens who control the whole thing. Recognition that social turnaround

will take more than changing bricks and mortar.

A ceremony has been held in Paris ending a week of commemorations

for the victims of the attacks on the satirical newspaper

Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket a year ago.

People gathered in the Place de la Republique, the site of defiant

protests against the killings for a minute's silence.

An oak tree unveiled to commemorate the victims,

and those killed in the Paris shootings in November.

Thousands of people have held a protest in Hong Kong to express

continuing anger at the disappearance of five

booksellers, thought to be in detention in China.

They are all linked to the same Hong Kong bookshop that sells

publications critical of the Chinese government.

Senior figures within the Church of England, including 7 Archdeacons

and 8 retired Bishops, are among more than a hundred

signatories to an open letter, urging the church to acknowledge

that gay and trans-gender Christians have been discriminated against,

It comes ahead of a meeting of global Anglican leaders

Our Religious Affairs Correspondent Caroline Wyatt is there for us,

The Anglican Communion is made up of 80 million of the faithful in 160

countries around the world, who look to Canterbury for their leadership,

but ever since the Liberal Episcopal church in North America allowed a

gay bishop it intensified. Justin Welby has called the leaders of

those churches together around one table to discuss their differences,

in what is being seen by many as a high-risk strategy.

The crypt at Canterbury Cathedral has heard many heartfelt prayers

Tonight there will be many more as the leaders of the Anglican

Communion come together to face their divisions

over sexuality that have scarred the church.

Jane is a leading evangelical Christian.

She is behind the letter to the archbishops today.

Sent in the hope that the church can heal some of the hurt felt by gay

I would like to see them repent for the way they have treated

I would love it for them to turn round and say, gosh,

I don't think that's going to happen.

Actually there is a significant part of the Church of England who really

worry about how the gay community is being treated and want to stand

But attitudes of many African countries and elsewhere where active

homosexuality remains a crime, make it hard to find common ground.

There is strong opposition from some churches to gay marriage

More conservative voices here and the former Bishop

of Rochester says the church must stick to its biblical roots.

It's about the source of authority, whether we just make it up as we go

along, or does the church still acknowledge the authority

of the Bible and the unanimous teaching of the whole church and not

This chapel, our Lady Undercroft, is where many of the primates

will gather to pray and reflect this week.

Many hoping that they can overcome their divisions.

It's hard to see how such radically differing views on sexuality

Not least while the Church of England itself is still

Some fear that this week could even mark the end of the

With all news of today's FA Cup action and the rest of the sport

here's Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes at the BBC Sports Centre.

The FA Cup 3rd Round continued today.

The results are coming now, so if you want to wait for Match

of the Day, which follows the news or if you're in Scotland

it's after Sportscene, which has highlights of the Scottish

But their Premier League colleagues Swansea suffered by far the biggest

shock - losing to League 2's Oxford United.

Our Correspondent Andy Swiss has the details.

Two teams, 54 league places apart, one hefty shock. It was the day the

FA Cup and Oxford delivered a good old-fashioned giant-killing, not

that there was much sign of one when Swansea took a sumptuous lead

through this brilliant backheel. But soon the hosts were handed a

lifeline. Penalty to Oxford, which was coolly dispatched. And if that

got them excited, what followed after the break with something else.

It's a beauty! Step forward 23 old Roofe. He raised concisely that. And

he scores! The underdogs were in dreamland. Swansea did pour one back

but it was Oxford's day. Everyone is bouncing and the atmosphere... You

felt in the crowd as well, they were going crazy and it is the same in

the dressing room. Chelsea know all about FA Cup upsets, but after their

shock defeat to Bradford last year, there were no such slip-ups against

Scunthorpe. Diego Costa's early goal eased any nerves and after the break

Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealed a 2-0 win. For all their problems, something

for the owner to smile about. Leicester City looks on course to

continue their impressive form, after initially trailing Tottenham,

a solo effort gave them a 2-1 lead. But in the closing minutes,

controversy. Nathan Dyer adjudged to have handled the ball and Harry Kane

fired Tottenham into a replay. An eventful end to a dramatic

afternoon. Cardiff were beaten by Shrewsbury

and Yeovil came from behind to draw with Carlisle. Celtic and Rangers

are both safely through to the fifth round of the Scottish cup.

And Rangers thrashed Cowdenbeath 5-1.

Martyn Waghorn scoring a hat-trick to become Britain's top scorer this

Bath Rugby lost 12-9 at the European Champions Toulon,

but Ulster staged a remarkable comeback against Oyannax.

They were trailing 23-0 at half-time in France,

but went-on to steal victory with this Paddy Jackson penalty

Scott Waites is the new BDO World Darts Champion.

The carpenter from Huddersfield thrashed the unseeded

Canadian Jeff Smith 7-1 in the final at Lakeside in Surrey.

It's the second time Waites has won the title,

I played darts because I love playing darts, not for the prize.

The World Championship means the world to me, sack the money off, the

World Championship is what I want to win. Why not try again next year?

There's been an upset at the start of the Masters Snooker,

with the defending Champion Shaun Murphy knocked-out in the first

round by Mark Allen - partly due to this extraordinary

That was the Englishman's third miss

on the red and he had to forfeit the frame.

You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.

But do stay with us on BBC1, it's time for the news